Project to a wireless display with Miracast

Miracast is a wireless technology your PC can use to project your screen to TVs, projectors, and streaming media players that also support Miracast. You can use this to share what you’re doing on your PC, present a slide show, or even play your favorite game on a larger screen.

Get your devices ready

If your PC came with Windows 8.1or Windows RT 8.1 and your wireless display supports Miracast, you’re ready to add the wireless display to your PC to complete the connection, and start projecting.

However, if you upgraded your PC from an older version of Windows, you'll need to make sure your PC supports Miracast and is ready to project. Also, if the display you'll project to doesn’t support Miracast, you’ll need to set up the display by adding an extra piece of hardware to it before you can start projecting.

To help avoid problems projecting, make sure your PC supports Miracast and that it has the most current drivers.

Check if your PC supports Miracast

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Devices. (If you're using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer up, and then click Devices.)

Tap or click Project. If you see Add a wireless display, your PC supports Miracast.﻿

Get current drivers for your PC

A driver is software that a device uses to work with your PC. If you upgraded your PC from an older version of Windows, you should get the latest drivers available for your PC. There are two ways to get them.

Make sure Windows Update has installed all of the important and optional updates for your PC.

Check the Support page on your PC manufacturer’s website and install the drivers yourself.

If the device you're projecting to doesn’t support Miracast, then you’ll need a Miracast adapter (sometimes also called a dongle) that plugs into an HDMI port on your display device. The adapter lets your PC communicate wirelessly with the display device.

A variety of manufacturers offer Miracast adapters, such as the ActiontecScreenBeam Pro Wireless Display Receiver and the NetGearPush2TV (PTV3000) Wireless Display Adapter. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions to connect the adapter.

You should also update the firmware on your adapter by going to the Support section of the manufacturer's website, searching on your specific device, and following their instructions to download and install that firmware. You can also check the Windows Store to see if there’s an app that'll update the firmware on your adapter.

Add the display to complete the connection

With your PC and display ready to project, you need to add the wireless display to your PC. Both devices need to be within range, which usually means that they're in the same room.

To add a wireless display to your PC

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Devices.(If you're using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer up, and then click Devices.)

Tap or click Project, and then tap or click Add a wireless display.

Choose the wireless display in the list of devices found, and follow the instructions on the screen.

Project your screen to a wireless display

After you add the wireless display to your PC, you can project your screen to it and change what you see on each screen.

To project your screen

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Devices.(If you're using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer up, and then click Devices.)

Tap or click Project, and then tap or click the wireless display you want.

To choose what you see on each screen

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Devices.(If you're using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer up, and then click Devices.)

Extend. You'll see everything spread over both screens, and you can drag and move items between the two.

Second screen only. You’ll see everything on the connected screen. Your other screen will be blank.

Disconnect from a wireless display

If you move your PC beyond the range of the wireless display (such as to another room), or if you make your PC sleep or hibernate, the two devices will disconnect. You can also disconnect the wireless display manually.

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Devices.(If you're using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer up, and then click Devices.)

Tap or click Project, and then tap or click Disconnect.

Fix problems

You can solve many problems by installing the latest drivers for your PC and the latest firmware for your wireless display or Miracast adapter. To update firmware on your wireless display or adapter, go to the Support section of the manufacturer's website, search on your specific device, and follow their instructions to download and install that firmware. You can also check the Windows Store to see if there’s an app from the manufacturer of your wireless display or Miracast adapter that updates firmware.

Here are a few more steps to try if you continue to experience problems.

If you can't add the wireless display or adapter, wait for it to become ready and then try again. If that doesn’t work, try restarting your PC and the wireless display or adapter.

If your PC won't connect to the display, try removing and then adding it again.

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, tap Settings, and then tap Change PC settings.(If you're using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer up, click Settings, and then click Change PC settings.)

Tap or click PC and Devices, and then tap or click Devices.

Tap or click the wireless display, and then tap or click Remove Device.

Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Devices.(If you're using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer up, and then click Devices.)

Tap or click Project, and then tap or click Add a wireless display.

Choose the wireless display in the list of devices found, and follow the instructions on the screen.